News and commentary about the reigning royal houses of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Monaco -- and the former European monarchies as well.

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Friday, March 18, 2016

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in Montenegro

As a part of their visit to the Balkans, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are now in Montenegro. They arrived at the capital, Podgorica, and then traveled to the former royal capital, Cetinje -- the drive must have been breathtaking (and a little scary as Montenegrin roads are not in the best condition - and the two towns are in the mountains.) Montenegro means Black Mountain.

I had the pleasure to visit Montenegro in May 2013. I want to go back. So much to see - and view from the plane of the coast as I flew into Tivat .. superb.

Cetinje was where the Montenegrin royal family lived before going to exile after the country became a part of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (1918). In 2006, Montenegro declared its independence from Serbia, following a referendum.

The presidential palace - the Blue Palace - was once the home of Crown Prince Danilo of Montenegro, son of King Nikola (1841-1921) and Milena Vukotic, and his wife, Duchess Jutta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1880-1946)

Duchess Jutta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Jutta was the younger daughter (and one of four children) of Duke Adolf Friedrich V of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt. She was introduced to the Montenegrin Crown Prince during a visit to Russia, where she stayed with her cousin. Duchess Helene of Meckleng-Strelitz, the daughter of Grand Duke Georg August and his wife, Grand Duchess Catherine Mikhailovna of Russia.

Two of Danilo's sisters, Princesses Militza and Anastasia, were married to two members of the Russian Imperial Family: Grand Duke Peter and George, Duke of Leuchtenberg.

Jutta and Danilo were married on July 27, 1899 at Cetinje. They had no children.

Jutta's paternal grandmother, Grand Duchess Augusta, was born Princess Augusta of Cambridge, the second of three children of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge and Princess Augusta of Hesse-Cassel. Augusta was a first cousin of Queen Victoria. Her younger sister, Princess Mary Adelaide, was the mother of Queen Mary. Grand Duchess Augusta and her niece were close, and maintained a long correspondence.

When Augusta married her first cousin, Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Wilhelm of Mecklenburg-Streliz at Buckingham Palace in1843, her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge gave her the Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara, which the duchess had been given as a wedding gift when she married Prince Adolphus in 1818. Augusta gave Jutta the tiara as a wedding gift. At some point, when Jutta was in exile, she sold the tiara. It was sold again in May 1981, and was purchased by the Georg, Count of Waldburg zu Zeil. His wife, Princess Marie Gabriele of Bavaria has worn it several times.

Now available for purchase: a well-researched, footnoted article on the life of Grand Duke Michael Mikahilovich of Russia, whose marriage to Countess Sophie von Merenberg was unequal, but a love match. I wrote this piece some years ago for Royalty Digest, and now again available. The price is $5.00 (and will be sent to you as a PDF). Just click on the Buy Now link for purchase. Thanks.

The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins

My article, The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins, is now available through Kindle on Amazon, in all the Amazons' Kindle stores. This link is for US Amazon. The price is $9.99. Just visit your Amazon and go to the Kindle store, search for my article. The article runs more than 50 pages! And who were the Gleichens: Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (nephew of Queen Victoria) and his family. His marriage to Lady Laura Seymour was considered unequal, and his wife and children were created Countesses and Count Gleichen. A German title but very English people .... Feodora, Edward, Valda and Helena .. all talented and interesting people. True junior royals.

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All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or published without the prior approval of Marlene A. Koenig. You can, however, provide a link to the blog or to a post on the blog. Please credit Marlene A Koenig and Royal Musings. Thanks

Sources

The sources consulted for this blog include the New York Times, the Chicago Daily Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and The Times. I also consult books and other materials in my personal library. All the photos come from my personal collection, unless other noted.